Rio avoids row with Cole family

Premier League / 12 December 2012, 12:20pm

Neil Ashton

MANCHESTER, ENGLAND - DECEMBER 09: Rio Ferdinand of Manchester United is helped by team-mate Danny Welbeck (L) after being struck by an object during the Barclays Premier League match between Manchester City and Manchester United at Etihad Stadium on December 9, 2012 in Manchester, England. (Photo by Clive Mason/Getty Images)

Rio Ferdinand is refusing to be drawn into another row with Ashley Cole after a series of Facebook messages celebrating his facial injury were attributed to the Chelsea defender’s family.

Ferdinand was left bleeding when a coin was thrown at him in Sunday’s volatile Manchester derby.

A message appeared on the social media site under the name of Cole’s brother Matty on Sunday after Ferdinand was cut above the eye by a 2p coin as he celebrated Robin van Persie’s late winner.

The words read: ‘So happy Rio got hit in the face today when he tried to give it kissing the badge!! Straight in the eye!! Made my day.’

Cole’s mother Sue, who claimed on Facebook that her son Ashley would be signing for Paris St-Germain in January, appeared to reply an hour later.

However, she has since denied posting a message which said: ‘Bloody missed that, ha ha ha. Give the fan that threw it a medal!!!!’

Ferdinand is aware of the comments but is refusing to be drawn into another battle with the Cole family.

The United defender was fined £40,000 for his infamous ‘choc ice’ tweet after Cole gave evidence before Westminster Magistrates’ Court on behalf of John Terry in July.

Cole was later fined £90,000 for his #BUNCHOFT**** tweet after the FA referred to the ‘evolution’ of his evidence in the FA independent regulatory commission’s verdict into Terry’s conduct.

Despite their differences, Ferdinand shook Cole’s hand when United faced Chelsea at Stamford Bridge on October 28. – Daily Mail